Top 10 netbooks

Netbooks are perfect travel companions and meet basic computing needs, including e-mailing, Web surfing, and simple document creation. Best of all, these low-powered machines cost less than the standard-issue laptop

Windows XP, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard disk, and a 10-inch screen are almost standard features of the netbook class. And so is an Intel Atom processor, though one of models we review here sports a Via Nano CPU. With any device that attempts to shrink a PC into an ultra-portable three-pound package, you can expect compromises. That said, many of these netbooks boast quite usable keyboards, decent performance, and excellent battery life (as long as 10 hours!). You'll even find features such as dual-boot Android, TV tuners, and gaming-capable GPUs in the mix. Prices range from $300 to $500-plus.